I grew up as a minister’s daughter. Some of my very first memories are listening to my dad preach the word of God. When I was little, we were always told to quietly listen and were given paper to draw on and color crayons to keep us busy. My mother always gave us a little “assignment.” Most days she would say, “Draw something that you can do for God today.”
My drawings were always filled with hearts everywhere. It was my thing and I was crazy about them. Rainbows too. There was nothing of mine without them plastered all over. One day, as a very little girl, while listening to my father preach, I wrote on my paper full of hearts; Love Goes On Forever. It was not something I heard anyone say, it just came to me - out of nowhere. But for some reason, it stuck. Whenever I drew anything or signed my name I used it. It felt very special and personal to me, almost as much as my own given name. I had no idea then how much that phrase would impact my life and how much it would mean to me.
I feel blessed to have been raised a preacher’s daughter. I was brought up in a very loving home. My mother was incredible and such an amazing support to my father. She was a wonderful example to me of a godly wife; loving, patient, kind and compassionate. We grew up very poor but my mother had a way of making everything stretch. There were six kids in our house and I don’t know how she did it. When a home is filled with love, nothing else really matters. It is where love begins.
It is approaching the 20th anniversary of my father’s passing, and it amazes me it has been that long. It seems like just yesterday I was his little girl, listening to one of his many sermons. I was so in awe of him and how he could capture a crowd with his riveting message so full of passion and hope. The words he spoke, penetrated my soul in a way nothing else in my lifetime would. They would make me who I am today and all that I hope to be. They taught me what my purpose is here on earth and the instructions on exactly how to fulfill it.
There was so much more to learn. So much more to this life that I never knew was ahead. So much I would only find out through my own experiences - good and bad - yet, my father’s words and passion would drive me, long after he was gone. Why? Because God’s word never changes…and His instructions never change. They are the same now as they were 2000 years ago. My dad was just a vessel, used by God to share His love, His hope, His message. This is the foundation I would build on. I am grateful to have been his daughter, to hear his message from God that has so profoundly touched my life. His love goes on forever….